Starbucks to outsource call center

Seattle Starbucks Corp. said Thursday it plans to close a 130-worker call center at its Seattle headquarters, using an outside company in Albuquerque, N.M., to handle customer feedback. Nashville, Tenn.-based Sitel will then take calls for Starbucks at Sitel's Albuquerque operation.

The company said that the move will be completed by September, affecting 78 Starbucks employees and 52 contract workers in Seattle.

Starbucks spokeswoman Stacey Krum characterized the change as an effort to better manage feedback, rather than a cost-cutting move. The Seattle company did not disclose details of its arrangement with Sitel.

Krum says the company hopes to find jobs for the affected employees elsewhere at Starbucks. If they are laid off, they will receive severance pay and help in finding another job.